Trimming dispensing device



JunewZ; 1942. A. J. sELcw TRIMMING DISPENSING DEVICEk Filed May 16, 1940 INVENTOR.

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Patented June 2, 1942 CEV` ossi

TRIMMING DIsPENsrNG DEVICE Albert J. Gelow, The Warren Three Oaks, Mich, assigner to -Featherbone Co.,

Three Oaks,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application Mayis, 1940, serial Np. 335,489

n Y Y 1 claim. This invention relates to a trimmingdispensing container and more particularly to a container for displaying various kinds of garment trimming materials and from ,which the same can be conveniently dispensed Vfor sale.

Such a -dispenser is intended primarily for use by the manufacturer as a transparent package in which trimming materials may .be attractively displayed on shelf or counter and from which the contents may -be withdrawn until exhausted, and the container thendiscarded.

The object of the invention is, therefore, to provide aninexpensive transparent display container for those light frilly materials which soil readily if not protected, and yet permitting the desired yardage to be unwoundand cut off without handling the spool on which the trimming is wound.

A preferred embodiment of the dispenser is disclosed in the accompanying -drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective View ofthe dispenser as it appears upon a counter or shelf;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View in vertical section showing the details of the outer transparent casing and the mounting for the spool upon which the trimming is loosely wound; and

Fig. 3 is a detail view taken on line 3 3 of Iig. 2.

The dispenser consists essentially of two parts, to wit a cylindrical transparent container I designed to stand on end, and a rotative reel or spool 2 ttingwithin said container and upon which the trimming 3 is s-omewhat loosely wound from end to end and preferably from bottom to top, the container having an opening'or `slot 4 near the top through which the trimming is with-drawn as wanted.

The container is preferably made of a pliable transparent sheet material of a `cellulosic composition such as non-inflammable cellulose acetate. The body of the container I is a tube la, say, eight (8) inches in length and four (4) inches in diameter, or made in such other dimensions as may be desired, the ends of the tube being open and the edges turned or rolledinwardly to form marginal beads or flanges as at Ib. The upper end `of the tube is closed or sealed by a disc of the same transparent cellulosic material and having the same diameter as the tube. This disc is suiliciently pliable to be inserted into the tube and hold its seat against the beaded edgelb. The lower end of the tube is also closed by a disc 6, but preferably of cardboard and therefore somewhat stiffer than the top closure disc 5 and hence better suited for the base of the container.

in vertical section asV package, only a single thickness of the trimming The` spool 2 is preferably made of cardboard and consistsof -a hollow cylindrical core 2a and end discs 2b, 2D having approximately the same diameter as that of the container. A suitable rotative mounting for the spool is provided, and while this may be accomplished in several ways, one of the simplest is to insert a fastener l, shaped something like a thumb-tack, upwardly through the center of the bottom disc 6 of the container and the lower end of the spool, the fastener having an enlargement at its end to keep it from falling out.

The upper end of the spool is mounted in somewhat the same manner except that provision is made for rotating the same by hand, as is necessary when an excess of the trimming has been withdrawn from the container and it is desired to re-wind it onto the spool. Thus, a short length of wire is bent to form a loop 8 projecting above the upper end of the container and having a shank portion 8a passing through the center of the end disc 5 and thence through the upper end Adisc of the spool where its free end is suitably fastened as by bending it flat against the inner face of the disc and anchoring it by pasting a strip of paper 9 over it, as shown in Fig. 3.

It would also be possible to pass a length of wire axially of the spool to include the two end discs 5 and 6 of the container. In either case, the package is assembled after the trimming has been wound onto the spool.

In the present disclosure the particular style of trimming is called frilling, that is, a narrow band of light, sheer fabric stitched and gathered along one edge. Such a material can not be wound tightly onto cores as is ribbon, tape and braid, but quite loosely. Thus, in the present is carried on the spool, the stitched edge hugging the core vand the frilly edge standing outwardly therefrom, othat the successive turns are loosely piled upon each other from the bottom upwardly.

Thus, with the trimming preferably wound Vfrom the bottom to the top of the spool, it

naturally unwinds lfrom top to bottom, and hence the dispensing opening or slot 4 is formed in the side wall of the container body near its upper end. Through this opening the free end of the trimming is threaded, and, by pulling on this end, the spool revolves as the approximate vyardage wanted is unwound. Obviously, it is not possible to measure the exact length of trimming desired as it is ydispensed from the container and as a result there would invariably be an excess un- Wound and drawn through the opening. But this excess can be easily rewound onto the spool by rotating the same by means of the loop 8 at the top of the container.

As the trimming is consumed the topmost turns gradually approach the bottom of the spool, but this does not interfere with its withdrawal through the opening at the top. And in this connection it should be observed that the spool could be Wound from top to. bottom and the trimming withdrawn through an opening near the base of the container. This reversed arrangement has been contemplated although it presents this disadvantage, namely, that the trimming is usually Wound onto the spool so loosely that in unvvinding it from the bottom the mass above tends to slide down, and when this occurs, it is quite impossible to rewind any excess length back onto the spool. It is for this reason that the top dispensing arrangement is preferred.

From the foregoing discussion, the utilitarian advantages of the dispensing container are evident, namely, the ability to display trimmings` on a counter or shelf and within easy reach of the prospective purchaser for inspection as to kind and texture, as Well as for matching as to color and yet the bulk of the trimming is protected from dirt and against handling, With the result that it reaches the consumer fresh and free from the shopworn appearance occasioned by inadequate protection While on display.

Having set forth a preferred embodiment of my invention, I claim:

A display container and dispenser for trimmings and like materials, comprising a tubular body of a pliable transparent sheet material open at its upper and lower ends, said tubular body having a longitudinally extending slot adjacentits upper end a spool of relatively light construction having a length of trimming Wound thereon in overlapping relation from the lower to the upper end, discs having axial pivotal connection with the ends of said spool and adapted to form the closures for the ends of said tubular body, said spool and disc assembly being insertable into said body, the latter having its ends fashioned to yieldingly engage said discs to provide a relatively stable airtight closure for the contents of the spool, the latter being adapted to rotate as the contents are unWound and dispensed through said slot at the upper end of said tubular body, and means for manually rotating said spool Without removing it from said tubular body.

ALBERT J. GELOW. 

